Curious marriage: a Kard

Gonzoadler · 18th January 2021, 08:26 PM

Hello,

I got this dagger recently which I would refer as a Kard.
Maybe it was made in the early 20th or late 19th century.
I want to ask you if anyone has seen something similar before?
Where this dagger could been made?

The silver scabbard has typical caucasian decoration elements, but a central asian origin seems to me possible, too.
Which daggers have normally such a scabbard? Has anyone an example?
I think of Kards from Bukhara but that could be wrong.

The blade is from a shortened european or russian sabre and was blued before the remounting.
The stack hilt has the shape of a man with a hat which reminds me of a caucasian papakha. It is decorated with glass stones.
There are also iron mountings with gold Koftgari. The decor looks caucasian, too.

Length overall: 40cm
Without scabbard: 37cm
Blade: 26cm

Comments are welcome

Gonzoadler · 18th January 2021, 08:28 PM

More pictures:

Gonzoadler · 18th January 2021, 08:29 PM

And some from the scabbard.
That's it.

David R · 19th January 2021, 12:16 PM

The blade and scabbard are very nice, but the hilt is probably a walking stick handle.

mahratt · 19th January 2021, 06:20 PM

This is Central Asia. End of the 19th century. By this time, Central Asia was annexed to the Russian Empire. Many people who lived in the Russian Empire moved to Central Asia. Including master jewelers from the Caucasus. In Bukhara and other cities, these master jewelers from the Caucasus began to make silver sheaths in the Caucasian style for the traditional knives of Central Asia: kard, bichaq and pesh-kabz.

Judging by the shape of the scabbard, they were made for the bichaq.

Lee · 19th January 2021, 07:53 PM

Take a look at this old thread as the bolster and a blade possibly recycled from previous mounts bring this type to mind.

Gonzoadler · 19th January 2021, 08:25 PM

Thanks for your helpful comments. There are a lot of similar but not equal pieces from Central Asia, so I was'nt completely sure about that origin.
That the scabbard was made for a Bichaq could be more likely than for a Kard, but the examples from the old thread looking really plausible, too.

I think it is possible that the handle was made for a walking stick, don't know if such sticks were common in that region.

It would be great if anyone can show pieces which are partly similar.

Regards

18th January 2021, 08:26 PM	#1
Gonzoadler Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Germany Posts: 239	Curious marriage: a Kard Hello, I got this dagger recently which I would refer as a Kard. Maybe it was made in the early 20th or late 19th century. I want to ask you if anyone has seen something similar before? Where this dagger could been made? The silver scabbard has typical caucasian decoration elements, but a central asian origin seems to me possible, too. Which daggers have normally such a scabbard? Has anyone an example? I think of Kards from Bukhara but that could be wrong. The blade is from a shortened european or russian sabre and was blued before the remounting. The stack hilt has the shape of a man with a hat which reminds me of a caucasian papakha. It is decorated with glass stones. There are also iron mountings with gold Koftgari. The decor looks caucasian, too. Length overall: 40cm Without scabbard: 37cm Blade: 26cm Comments are welcome Attached Images

18th January 2021, 08:28 PM	#2
Gonzoadler Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Germany Posts: 239	More pictures: Attached Images

18th January 2021, 08:29 PM	#3
Gonzoadler Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Germany Posts: 239	And some from the scabbard. That's it. Attached Images

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19th January 2021, 12:16 PM	#4
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,051	The blade and scabbard are very nice, but the hilt is probably a walking stick handle.

19th January 2021, 06:20 PM	#5
mahratt Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Russia Posts: 1,042	This is Central Asia. End of the 19th century. By this time, Central Asia was annexed to the Russian Empire. Many people who lived in the Russian Empire moved to Central Asia. Including master jewelers from the Caucasus. In Bukhara and other cities, these master jewelers from the Caucasus began to make silver sheaths in the Caucasian style for the traditional knives of Central Asia: kard, bichaq and pesh-kabz. Judging by the shape of the scabbard, they were made for the bichaq.

19th January 2021, 07:53 PM	#6
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 887	Take a look at this old thread as the bolster and a blade possibly recycled from previous mounts bring this type to mind.

19th January 2021, 08:25 PM	#7
Gonzoadler Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Germany Posts: 239	Thanks for your helpful comments. There are a lot of similar but not equal pieces from Central Asia, so I was'nt completely sure about that origin. That the scabbard was made for a Bichaq could be more likely than for a Kard, but the examples from the old thread looking really plausible, too. I think it is possible that the handle was made for a walking stick, don't know if such sticks were common in that region. It would be great if anyone can show pieces which are partly similar. Regards